Penn State Football: 10 Best Quarterbacks in School History

Penn State is not known for its quarterbacks. The Nittany Lions are known for their excellent linebackers and consistent running backs.

However, the Nittany Lions have enjoyed the successes of a handful of signal-callers throughout their program's history.

Six quarterbacks have thrown for more than 5,000 yards in their careers. One has thrown for over 7,000.

The Nittany Lion quarterbacks have not garnered the attention, but they have filled their roles well on one of college football's most consistent programs.

Here are the 10 best quarterbacks in Penn State history.

10. Chuck Burkhart

Chuck Burkhart is nowhere near the top of Penn State's all-time passing leaders; however, he did lead Penn State to back-to-back undefeated seasons.

Burkhart was the quarterback for Penn State's 1968 and 1969 undefeated campaigns. His three-yard run helped Penn State win the 1969 Orange Bowl over the Kansas Jayhawks.

Burkhart does not have gaudy statistics, but winning is what matters the most.

Penn State's glory days did not start until later, but Burkhart helped put Penn State on the map during his career.

9. Wally Richardson

Wally Richardson was talented, but played unsuccessful seasons at Penn State.

Richardson threw for 4,419 yards and 27 touchdowns throughout his Penn State career.

Richardson was never the most talented quarterback, but he got the job done. He was an above-average athlete with capable throwing ability.

He goes into the long list of forgotten names, but Richardson had an underrated statistical career.

8. Tony Sacca

Tony Sacca did not win a ton of games at Penn State, but he racked up the passing yards.

Sacca threw for nearly 6,000 total yards and 41 touchdowns throughout his career. He could throw the ball a mile, and loved to air it out when he wasn't handing the ball to Blair Thomas.

Sacca never lived up to the lofty expectations placed on him out of high school, but he showed glimpses. He had a huge arm, but tended to make crucial mistakes.

Sacca's best season came in 1991. He threw for nearly 2,500 yards and 21 touchdowns. He only threw five interceptions.

7. John Hufnagel

John Hufnagel was Penn State's starting quarterback for three seasons.

Hufnagel was an All-American in 1972. He became the first Penn State quarterback to clear 2,000 yards in a single season and finished sixth in the Heisman Trophy voting that year.

Hufnagel had 3,545 career passing yards and 26 career touchdowns at Penn State. He led a ferocious Penn State attack with help from running back Lydell Mitchell.

Penn State's 1972 Cotton Bowl victory over Texas was due in large part to Hufnagel's outstanding play.

The best quarterbacks save their best for the biggest stage, and Hufnagel did just that in his junior season.

6. Tom Shuman

Tom Shuman is a forgotten member of Penn State's 1973 undefeated team because of running back John Cappalletti.

Shuman never won the Heisman Trophy—like Cappalletti did—but he was the engineer behind the Nittany Lions' consistent attack.

Shuman won the Most Valuable Player award in the 1973 Orange Bowl. He keyed the Nittany Lions' victory over LSU.

He left Penn State with 2,886 career yards and 28 touchdowns.

Shuman did not have a huge arm, but he was incredibly smart. He understood his role in the Penn State offense, and filled it completely.

Cappalletti will be remembered historically, but Shuman was a big part of his success.

5. Daryll Clark

Daryll Clark had an extremely underrated Penn State career. He left Penn State with four career losses.

Clark was a vital member of Penn State's squad in 2008 and 2009. He was named a team captain prior to the 2009 season.

Clark's numbers are right there with many of Penn State's greats. He had 43 career touchdown passes, and had over 3,000 yards passing in 2009.

The Nittany Lions are traditionally a pro-style, run-first offense. Clark ushered in a new "Spread HD" offense because of his dual-threat capability.

Many people overlook Clark because of his two devastating losses to Iowa. Clark had an outstanding career nonetheless.

4. Chuck Fusina

Chuck Fusina enjoyed a decorated career at Penn State in the late 1970s.

Fusina won the 1978 Maxwell Award and was a first team All-American. He was runner-up in the Heisman Trophy running that season, as well.

The Nittany Lions went undefeated in 1978. Fusina did not have the biggest arm, but he was a great leader behind center. He left Penn State with three career losses.

Penn State's championship teams are known for their dynamic rushing attack. Fusina was privileged to have Matt Suhey and Booker Moore behind him, but he did a lot of great work himself. 

Fusina earned the accolades and won the games in Happy Valley.

3. Michael Robinson

Michael Robinson is one of the greatest leaders in Penn State history.

Robinson was a Penn State star for just one year, but it was a phenomenal campaign.

Prior to playing quarterback, Robinson was a jack of all trades. He lined up in the backfield, the slot and out wide.

Robinson made the most of his opportunity to play quarterback in 2005. He led the Nittany Lions to a Big Ten Championship and an Orange Bowl victory. Penn State's only loss came against Michigan, in controversial fashion.

Robinson was named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year in 2005, and was second team All-Big Ten. He was also on the Maxwell Award watch list, and finished fifth in the Heisman Trophy voting.

Robinson finished the season with 3,000-plus total yards and 28 total touchdowns. He was one of the best dual-threat quarterbacks in the nation.

Other quarterbacks were more polished than Robinson, but his leadership was unrivaled. Robinson refused to lose, and made big plays at the right time.

2. Todd Blackledge

Todd Blackledge quarterbacked a national championship Penn State team in 1982. The Nittany Lions defeated the Georgia Bulldogs in the 1983 Sugar Bowl.

Blackledge won the Davey O'Brien award following his championship run. He passed for 2,000-plus yards and 22 touchdowns that season.

Blackledge's career numbers are not better than Kerry Collins' numbers, but they are close. He finished with 4,812 yards and 41 touchdowns, but he did throw 41 interceptions.

Penn State's 1983 Sugar Bowl victory is one of the greatest in its history. Herschel Walker's Bulldogs were an elite squad, but Blackledge's winning attitude triumphed.

Blackledge finished his career with 31 victories.

1. Kerry Collins

Kerry Collins is the best passer in Penn State history. He had an explosive arm, and the numbers to prove it.

Collins threw for over 5,000 yards and 39 touchdowns in his career. He finished his career with 21 victories and five losses.

The pinnacle of Collins' career was in 1994. He led the Nittany Lions to an undefeated record, and a Rose Bowl victory over Oregon. The Nittany Lions finished behind Nebraska in both major polls that season.

Penn State's 1994 team was dynamic on offense. Collins was the main reason. He won the Maxwell Award and the Davey O'Brien Award, and finished fourth in Heisman voting. Collins was also named a first team All-American.

Collins broke the records for total offense, completions, passing yardage, passing efficiency and completion percentage in 1994. He nearly broke the all-time NCAA record for pass efficiency, as well.

Penn State may not be known for their quarterback play, but Collins is an exception. He had an outstanding arm, and understood how to win.